Refrigeration controlling valve



Nov. 3, 1953 E. J. DILLMAN 2,657,861

REFRIGERATION CONTROLLING VALVE Filed NOV. 13, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

OM BY 4%, ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 2,657,861 REFRIGERATION CONTROLLING VALVE Earnest J. Dillm'an,

Detroit, Mich, assigner to Detroit Controls Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application November 13, 1948, Serial No. 59,920

7 claims. (01. 236=92) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigeration controlling valves in general and more particularly to temperature operated valves for controlling the flow or refrigerant fluid in a refrigeration secondary system.

One of the objects of this invention is to rovide a new and improved refrigeration controlling valve. 7 Another object is to provide a refrigeration controlling valve of "balanced" construction to render ineffective variations in pressure within the refrigeration system. 7

Another object is to provide-an improved temperature-operated refrigeration controlling valve of balanced construction.

Another object is to provide a refrigeration controlling valve of novel and inexpensive structure.

Other objects will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

This invention comprises the new and improved construction and combination of parts and their cooperative relationship to each other which will be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawing to be taken as a part of this specification there is clearly and fully illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention in which drawing the figure shown is that of a refrigeration controlling valve embodying this invention and illustrated diagrammati cally in a refrigeration secondary system, the valve being shown in longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference there is shown diagrammatically a refrigeration system comprising a motor and compressor unit I connected by a conduit 2 to a condenser 3 which is in turn connected to a receiver 4. The receiver 4 is connected to a refrigerant evaporator 5 through a control valve (not shown), the evaporator 5 being connected by a conduit 6 back to the compressor I. The evaporator 5 is shown positioned in a refrigerated space I and in heat exchange relation with the condenser 8 of a refrigeration secondary system. In the secondary system refrigerant gas is condensed in the condenser 8 and flows through conduit 9 to evaporator I which is operable to cool the space H in which it is positioned. The evaporator I0 is connected back to the condenser 8 by a conduit 12. There is .a refrigerant flow controlling valve 13 positioned in the refrigerant line 9 which is operable to control flow of refrigerant to the evaporator I0.

2 The refrigeration valve l3 comprises a valve casing l4 having an inlet passageway l and an outlet passageway Hi. There is a circular recess I! on one side of the valve casing [4 which forms an outlet pressure chamber. The recess i! has an annular shoulder l8 and flange l9. On the other side of the valve casing I4 there is a circular or cylindrical recess which has a surrounding annular shoulder 2| and flange 22. There is a passageway 23 which interconnects the recesses I! and 2 0 and which forms a valve port 24 at its point of opening into the chamber 20. The inlet passageway l5 opens into the inlet chamber 20 and the outlet passageway I6 opens into the interconnecting passageway 23, the outlet passageway l6 being connected by another passageway 25 to the outlet chamber H. There is a valve member 26 which has a hollow cylindrical projection extending into the passageway '23 and has an annular shoulder portion closing the valve port 24 and hollow cylindrical projection extending on the other side of the shoulder and alined with the first-mentioned cylindrical projection. There is a flexible diaphragm 27 which closes the outlet chamber I1 and seats at its periphery on the'annular shoulder IS. A dish-shaped cover member I phragm 2i andse'at's on the shoulder l8, the diaphragm 21 and cover member 28 being secured and sealed in place by the flange H! which is turned in and soldered as at I 3. The cover member 28 and diaphragm 21 define a power element pressure chamber 23 which is supplied with pressure by a conduit 30 opening at one end through the cover member 23 and having its other end connected to a bulb element 3| containing a thermostatic fluid. There is a. thrust member 32 slidably positioned in the passageway 23 and abutting the thrust plate 33 of the diaphragm 2'! and having a projecting rod portion 34 extending into the hollow projection of the valve member 26 in the passageway 23. There is another diaphragm 35 which closes the inlet pressure chamber 20 and seats at its periphery on the annular shoulder 2|. here is'a hollow cylindrical member 36 which has an annular disc-shaped member 37 secured to one end thereof forming a flange. The disc member 31 fits over the diaphragm 35 and holds the same in place against the shoulder 2!, the flange 22 being inturned and soldered circumferentially at i2 as was flange [9 to secure and seal hermetically the diaphragm 35 and disc 31. There is a bellows member 38 which is positioned in the hollow member 36 and whichhas itswalls at one end secured to the walls of the member 36 by an annular cup-shaped member 28 fits over the dia-'- aes'aaei 89. The hollow member 36, bellows 36, and diaphragm define a hermetically sealed pressure chamber 40. There is a filler tube 4| which opens into the pressure chamber through which the chamber 40 may be filled with gas or evacuated as the use of the valve may require. (In the construction shown, the chamber 46 would be filled with an inert gas under a pressure higher than the maximum operating pressure of the system since the diaphragm 35 must serve the purpose of a spring resisting valve opening movement.) There is a cap member 42 which closes the open end of the hollow member 36 and which has an adjustment screw 43 positioned therethrough. The adjustment screw 43 is operable to move the end wall of the bellows 38 to determine the volume and the pressure of the pressure chamber 40. There is a thrust member 44 which is carried by a thrust plate on the diaphragm 35 and which extends into the hollow projection on the inlet side of the valve member 26.

In operation this valve functions as follows:

The diaphragm 21 is responsive to the differential of pressure between the power element chamber 29 and the outlet pressure chamber I1 and is operable upon movement to move the thrust member 32 to open the valve member 26. The diaphragm 35 is responsive to a differential of pressure between the inlet pressure chamber and the hermetically sealed chamber 40 and is operable through the thrust member 44 in opposition to movement of the valve member 26. The two diaphragms 21 and 35 are open to the pressure of refrigerant fiuid passing through the valve and operate in opposition to each other to neutralize the effect of refrigerant pressure on the operation of the valve. By this construction the valve is said to be of balanced design. Since the effect of pressure passing through the valve on the respective diaphragms is substantially neutralized the valve will operate substantially independently of the system pressure and in response to the thermostatic bulb element 3|. The thrust members 34 and 44 which fit into the opposite hollow projections of the valve member 26 are operable to permit motion of their respective diaphragms 33 and 35 outward relative to the valve member 26. By this construction when the valve member 26 is in closed position excessive back pressure in the chamber ll will not cause excessive pressure on the valve member 26 as would happen if there were a positive connection to the valve member. correspondingly an increased pressure in the chamber 20 will not cause the valve member 26 to be pulled open. Since the pressure chamber 40 adjacent the diaphragm 35 is hermetically sealed by the bellows 38 the valve is protected against changes in barometric pressure. The temperature of operation of the valve is determined by the pressure in the chamber 40 against which element 31 must operate, this pressure being determined by the amount of gas introduced or removed through the filler tube 4| and by the adjustment of the bellows 38 by the adjustment screw 43.

From the foregoing it is seen that there is provided herein a temperature operated valve of "balanced construction which is very simply constructed and inexpensive to manufacture and which is protected against changes in barometric pressure by a sealing bellows which bellows also functions to determine the temperature of valve operation.

Having thus described the invention what is the thermostatic power 4 claimed and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber communicable with said inlet, an outlet pressure chamber communicable with said outlet, a passageway connecting said inlet pressure chamber to said outlet and defining a valve port at the end opening into said inlet pressure chamber, a movable valve member cooperable with said valve port to control flow of refrigerant through said valve, a flexible diaphragm closing said outlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure in said outlet, a dish-shaped member secured over said diaphragm and defining therewith a power element pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said power element chamber and having connected at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostatic fiuid, a thrust member interconnecting said diaphragm and said valve member and operable to transmit movement therebetween, a second diaphragm closing said inlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure therein, a second thrust member interconnecting said second diaphragm and said valve member and alined with and in opposed position to said first-named thrust member, a hollow member hermetically secured adjacent said second diaphragm and defining therewith a fourth pressure chamber, said first-named and second diaphragms being operable to balance the effect of refrigerant pressure on valve member operation, and said bulb element being operable to increase the pressure in said power element pressure chamber to move said valve member to open position upon rise in temperature, the temperature at which said valve member will be opened being determined by the pressure in said fourth pressure chamber.

2. A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber communicable with said inlet, an outlet pressure chamber communicable with said outlet, a passageway connecting said inlet pressure chamber to said outlet and defining a valve port at the end opening into said inlet pressure chamber, a movable valve member cooperable with said valve port to control flow of refrigerant through said valve, a flexible diaphragm closin said outlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure in said outlet, a dish-shaped member secured over said diaphragm and defining therewith a power element pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said power element chamber and having connected at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostatic fluid, a thrust member interconnecting said diaphragm and said valve member and operable to transmit movement therebetween, a second diaphragm closing said inlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure therein, a second thrust member interconnecting said second diaphragm and said valve member and alined with and in opposed position to said first-named thrust member, a hollow member hermetically secured adjacent said second diaphragm and defining therewith a fourth pressure chamber, said first-named and second diaphragms being operable to balance the effect of refrigerant pressure on valve member operation, said bulb element being operable to increase the pressure in said power element pressure chamber to move said valve member to open position upon rise in temperature, the temaerate-iperature at, which said, valve member will be opened being determined by the pressure in said fourth pressure chamber, and means in said fourth chamber for varying the pressure therein.

3, A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber communicable with said inlet, an outlet pressure chamber communicable with said' out-let, a passageway connecting said inlet pressure chamber to said outlet and defining a valve port at the end opening into said inlet pressure chamber, a movable valve member cooperable with saidvalve port to control flow of refrigerant through said valve, a

flexible diaphragm closing said outlet pressure chamber and operabl'eto respond to pressure in said outlet, a dish shaped member secured over said diaphragmanddefining therewith a power element pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said power element chamber and having connected at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostaticfiuid, a thrust member interconnecting said diaphragm and said valve member and operable to transmit movement therebetween, a second diaphragm closing said inlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure therein, a second thrust member interconnecting said second diaphragm and said valve member and alined with and in opposed position to said first-named thrust member, a hollow member having an expansi-ble-bellows secured therein and hermetically secured adjacent said second diaphragm and definingtherewith an expansible and contractable fourth chamber, said first-named and-second diaphragms being operable to balancetheeifect of refrigerantpressure on valve member operation, said bulb ele ment being operab-le'to increase the pressure in said power element pressure chamber to move said valve member to open position upon rise in temperature, the temperature at which said valve member will be opened being determined by the pressure in said fourth pressure chamber, and an adjustment member extending through one wall of said hollow. member andoperable to move said bellows to vary the pressure in said fourth chamber;

4. A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, a first circular recess on one side of said casing forming an outlet pressure chamber having'an annular shoulder and a surrounding fiange, a second circular recess on the other side ofsaid casing forming an inlet pressure chamber having an annular shoulder and a surrounding flange, a third passagewayconcentrically positioned and interconnecting said outlet and inlet pressure chambers, said third passageway forming at its end opening into said inlet pressure chamber a valve port, said inlet passageway opening into said inlet pressure chamber, said outlet passageway opening into said third passageway, a fourth passageway interconnecting said outlet passageway and said outlet pressure chamber, a valve member having a hollow cylindrical projection extending into said third passageway and having an annular shoulder closing said valve port and a hollow cylindrical projection extending on the other side of said chamber and alined with said cylindrical projection, a flexible diaphragm closing said first circular recess and having its periphery seating on said firstnamed annular shoulder, a dish-shaped cover member fitted over said diaphragm and seated on said flr'st iiamed vannularshoulder, I named flange being inturned to secure and seal in place said diaphragm and said cover member, said cover member and diaphragm defining a power element pressure chamber, said diaphragm being responsive to the pressure differential between said outlet chamber and said power elementchamber, a conduit having one end opening into said power element chamber through said cover member and having at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostatic fluid, a thrust member slidably positioned in said third passageway abutting said diaphragm at one end and having a projecting rod portion at its other end extending into said first-named hollow valve meme ber projection, a second diaphragm closing said second circular recess and having its periphery seating on said second-named annular shoulder, ahollow cylindrical member having an annular dish-shaped member secured to one end thereof, said dish-shaped member covering said second diaphragm and seating on said second-named annular shoulder, said second-named flange being inturned to secure and seal said dish-shaped member and said second diaphragm in place, a, bellows positioned within said hollow cylindrical, member and secured at one end to the walls, thereof, said hollow cylindrical member, said. bellows, and said second fourth sealed pressure chamber, saidsecond diaphragm being responsiveto the pressure differential between said fourth and said inlet chambers, a cup member closing the open end of said hollow cylindrical member and having an adjustment screw extending therethrough for adjusting the position i of said bellows, and a second thrust member interconnecting said second'diaphragm and said valve member and having one end positioned in said secondenamed valve member hollow projection.

5. A refrigeration control-ling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber communicable with said inlet, an outlet pressure chamber communicable with said outlet, means including a passageway interconnecting said inlet and said outlet, .a valve member positioned for cooperative movement relative to said passageway for-controlling flow refrigerant therethrough, pressure responsive diaphragm members closing reach of. said chambers, a first thrust member interconnecting one of said diaphragm members and said valve member and operable upon movement in one direction to .move said valve member toward open position and operable when in valve closed position to have movement in the other direction relative to said valve member, asecondthrust member interconnecting the other of said diaphragm members and said valve-member and operable upon movement in one direction to move said .valve member toward closed position and operable when in valve closed position tohave movementin the other direction relative to said valvesmember, ,a wall member enclosingta space over said one diaphragm member, aaconduit -,opening at one end through said .walllmember and having at its other end a bulb element containinga thermostatic fluid for transmitting pressure to said one diaphragm member to move said valve member to open position upon increase in temperature, means including a third diaphragm member enclosing a hermetically sealed space open to said other diaphragm member, the pressure in said sealed space being operable to determine the force on said other diaphragm member and therefore the temdiaphragm defining a perature of response of the valve, and means to adjust the position of said third diaphragm member to determine the pressure in said sealed space.

6. A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet pressure chamber communicable with said inlet, an outlet pressure chamber communicable with said outlet, a passageway connecting said inlet pressure chamber to said outlet and defining a valve port at the end opening into said inlet pressure chamber, a movable valve member cooperable with said valve port to control flow of refrigerant through said valve, a flexible diaphragm closing said outlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure in said outlet, a dish-shaped member secured over said diaphragm and defining therewith a power element pressure chamber, a conduit opening into said power element chamber and having connected at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostatic fluid, a thrust member interconnecting said diaphragm and said valve member and operable to transmit movement therebetween, said thrust member engaging said valve member upon movement in one direction and being operable to have movement relative to said valve member in the opposite direction, a second diaphragm closing said inlet pressure chamber and operable to respond to pressure therein, a second thrust member interconnecting said second diaphragm and said valve member and alined with and in opposed position to said first-named thrust member, said second thrust member engaging said valve member upon movement in one direction and being operable to have movement relative to said valve member in the opposite direction, a hollow member hermetically secured adjacent said second diaphragm and defining therewith a fourth pres sure chamber, said first-named and second diaphragms being operable to balance the effect of refrigerant pressure on valve member operation, and said bulb element being operable to increase the pressure in said power element pressure chamber to move said valve member to open position upon rise in temperature, the temperature at which said valve member will be opened being determined by the pressure in said fourth pressure chamber.

'1. A refrigeration controlling valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, a first circular recess on one side of said casing forming an outlet pressure chamber having an annular shoulder and a surrounding flange, a second circular recess on the other side of said casing forming an inlet pressure chamber having an annular shoulder and a surrounding flange, a third passageway concentrically positioned and interconnecting said outlet and inlet pressure chambers, said third passageway forming at its end opening into said inlet pressure chamber a valve port, said inlet passageway opening into said inlet pressure chamber, said outlet passageway opening into said third passageway, a fourth passageway interconnecting said outlet passageway and said outlet pressure chamber, a valve member having a hollow cylindrical projection extending into said third passageway and having an annular shoulder closing said valve port and a hollow cylindrical projece tion extending on the other side of said chamber and alined with said cylindrical projection, a flexible diaphragm closing said first circular recess and having its periphery seating on said first-named annular shoulder, a dish-shaped cover member fitted over said diaphragm and seated on said first-named annular shoulder, said first-named flange being inturned to secure and seal in place said diaphragm and said cover member, said cover member and diaphragm defining a power element pressure chamber, said diaphragm being responsive to the pressure differential between said outlet chamber and said power element chamber, a conduit having one end opening into said power element chamber through said cover member and having at its other end a bulb element containing a thermostatic fluid, a thrust member slidably positioned in said third passageway abutting said diaphragm at one end and having a projecting rod portion at its other end extending into said first-named hollow valve member projection, said thrust member engaging said valve member upon movement in one direction and being operable to have movement relative to said valve member in the opposite direction, a second diaphragm closing said second circular recess and having its periphery seating on said second-named annular shoulder, a hollow cylindrical member having an annular dishshaped member secured to one end thereof, said dish-shaped member covering said second diaphragm and seating on said second-named annular shoulder, said second-named flange being inturned to secure and seal said dish-shaped memher and said second diaphragm in place, a bellows positioned within said hollow cylindrical member and secured at one end to the walls thereof, said hollow cylindrical member, said bellows, and said second diaphragm defining a fourth sealed pressure chamber, said second diaphragm being responsive to the pressure differential between said fourth and said inlet chambers, a cup member closing the open end of said hollow cylindrical member and having an adjustment screw extending therethrough for adjusting the position of said bellows, and a second thrust member interconnecting said second diaphragm and said valve member and having one end positioned in said second-named valve member hollow projection, said second thrust member engaging said valve member upon movement in one direction and being operable to have movement relative to said valve member in the opposite direction.

EARNEST J. DILLMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,429,923 Bosse Sept. 26, 1922 1,850,371 Beebe Mar. 22, 1932' 1,854,402 Goosmann Apr. 19, 1932 1,913,297 Strong June 6, 1933 1,958,814 Carson May 15, 1934 2,529,378 Dube et al Nov. '7, 1950 

